Girls Basketball Shortcomings-2021.

Written Monday March 29th at 9:00 PM

Updated Thursday August 19th at 9:30 PM

The OAA season is officially over for 2021. Here are the shortcomings for each team heading into next season.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers had another great year which resulted in their second straight Red title. They earned victories over Clarkston, Groves, and Royal Oak. West Bloomfield saw their season come to an abrupt end because of COVID-19 exposure. They lose Logan Lewis, Lola Chambers, Ashil Jenkins, and Jade Goodloe to graduation. The Lakers have Sydney Hendrix, Kendall Hendrix, Indya Davis, Summer Davis, and Myonna Hooper coming back. They will have a new coach in Darrin McAllister taking over the program. West Bloomfield should be very good again next season.

Clarkston: The Wolves had a strong season this year by winning their second straight district title but they fell in the regional semifinals for the second straight season but it was to Birmingham Marian. Clarkston has a ton of experience in Madison Skourpski, Izzy Hadley, Sophia Walker, Ava Hernandez, Ryan Bordogna, Emerson Wood, Mia Zorski, Emily Valenca, and Kiera Tolmie coming back for next season. They lose Kaitlyn Kaul, Olivia Toderan, Morgan Hunter, and Lena Eblenkamp to graduation. The Wolves took a hit in April when John Weyer announced that he was stepping down coaching the program however the Wolves kept the job in house and named Aaron Goodnough to be his replacement so the transition period might not be as bad as people think. Clarkston should be very good next season.

Groves: The Falcons had their fair share of ups and downs in 2020. They played a very tough schedule and finishing the regular season under 500. They won nine games (seven in the regular season and a district championship.) Groves had a very disappointing loss to Farmington Hills Mercy in the regional semifinals last season. The future is very bright for the Falcons with a ton of youth who gained proven experience in Cira Racco, Nevaeh Otis, Anaya Robinson, Kaitlyn Sanders, Melina Price, and Jordan Peterson coming back next season. Groves lost Kaitlyn Quinn and Rachel Sample to graduation. They also have a new coach in Alison Hidey taking over the program. The Falcons should be very good next season but there are some questions that loom surrounding the program.

Royal Oak: The Ravens had a very strong regular season which included wins over Berkley and North Farmington but it was a very rough end for them which saw their entire varsity team in quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols along with a very tough loss to Seaholm in the district first round on their home floor. Royal Oak beat Warren Cousino to close out their season. They lose eight seniors including Sarah Sorgohan, Sarah Ammon, Lexi Rosemberg, and Kira Vance to graduation. Coach Brian Sopota has a very strong junior varsity squad that has some varsity experience in Maddie Hanes and Danica Schmidt coming to the varsity level. Royal Oak will be a much different team in 2021-2022.

Southfield Arts and Tech: It was a trial by fire for first year coach Shaquita Coltrane and the Warriors. She had eight players on varsity which included a very tough first round district loss to Groves. They lose Kayiona Willis whom had a resurgence to graduation. They have Jalyn Austin coming back and will likely be the team's top option. It is not easy being in the Red and having a ton of change over like Southfield Arts and Tech did this season. Program strength is a major concern for the program. Most likely a change in division will help the program get back on track.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a great season winning a district championship for the first time since 2016 but suffered a very disappointing regional semifinal loss to Utica. They will be looking for more heading into next season. Stoney Creek has 10 players coming back including their top players in Mia Carson, Sydney LaPrairie, Sarah LaPraire, Paris Kramer, Milana Skoric, Kendall Binfet, Riley Binfet, Erin Flynn, Ella Demetral, and Lily Solek. They lose Kendall Kuhl to graduation. Program strength is very strong as well. Coach Kellen James is in a beautiful spot heading into next season.

Troy: The Colts had a good regular season but when it comes to the postseason, they tend to struggle. Troy lost for the third straight year in the opening game to Rochester in the district semifinals (previous two were to Utica.) Coach Julius Porter did not have three starters in that game including Kendal Zeiter, Mia Valiotis, and Charlotte Sobotka whom were out due to COVID protocol. The Colts lose Lauren Gumma and Kalen Knight to graduation. Alyssa Matuza, Sobotka, Zeiter, and Valiotis are coming back to provide that experience. They took a bit of a hit with Matuza likely being out for the season because of an ACL injury she suffered. Troy does have some questions to address next season but program strength should be in good shape.

Adams: The Highlanders had an interesting season with a chance to win the White in the process. They went on COVID protocol and played only nine regular season games. They had to survive Romeo and Lake Orion before falling to Clarkston in the district finals. Adams loses a ton of experience in Maddie Dolenga, Lauren Petersmark, and Elizabeth Blaine to graduation. They have Maddie Kessman, Abbey Drahnak, Samantha Blaine, Emma Klott, Olivia Marcial, Abby Skiff, and AnJayna Howard coming back. The Highlanders have a new coach in Joe Malburg. Malburg takes over the program after then coach Shay Lewis stepped down in March so there will be a transition period. Adams need to address a ton of things including program strength. They could be in some trouble next season.

North Farmington: The Raiders had a very tough season in which they saw a ton of peaks and valleys. North Farmington picked up two postseason wins over Livonia Stevenson and Farmington but fell to Farmington Hills Mercy in the district finals. The Raiders are in a very interesting spot next season. They lose Heaven Rogers to graduation but they have Sela Lefler and Penelope Creary coming back for Coach Jeff Simpson. Hallie Rogers is expected take on a bigger role in the interior. Program strength is also another question mark as well for North Farmington. There are a ton of questions for the program heading into next season.

Bloomfield Hills: It was a trial by fire for Coach Kristen Massey whom had a very turbulent offseason prior too the beginning of the year. The Blackhawks had been playing their best basketball late into the season and it showed despite their win/loss record even though they lost to Avondale in overtime in the district first round. Bloomfield Hills loses Emelia Johnson to graduation however with any young team whom is trying to build a program they will be peaks and valleys. Bloomfield Hills should have a ton of experience coming back next season in Amelia McCourt, Grace Main, Jessica Finney and Ashley Forner. McCourt, Main, Finney and Forner should be the foundation for years to come. It will be very interesting to see how the Blackhawks are going to be next season but they have to address some things for sure.

Lake Orion: The Dragons had an interesting season which saw a ton of peaks and valleys. Lake Orion played a very tough non league schedule which included Birmingham Marian, Clarkston, Troy, Stoney Creek, and Midland. The Dragons overcame two key injuries to Kylie Heck and Meghan Marshall during the season but they found a way and won the Blue outright. Lake Orion loses Marshall along with Kierra Tierney, Sydney Maddox, and Claudia Staruch to graduation. Katie Van Heck came on to the scene but got hurt this offseason and is out with an ACL injury. The Dragons have a very talented nucleus coming back with Maddie Ebbert, Taylor Dinda, Chloe Wiegers, Audrey Wischmeyer, Olivia Peplowski, and Heck coming back. Coach Bob Brydges has something brewing next season.

Oxford: It was a very odd season for the Wildcats which the final two games were very rough for them. Oxford lost Emma Morris to a shoulder injury in the Lake Orion game which changed the tone of their season. The Wildcats had a chance to share the Blue with the Dragons but fell to Troy Athens on the final day of the regular season and would fall to Grand Blanc in the districts first round. Oxford loses seven seniors including Charlotte McClenaghan, Brooke Zeiter, Morris, and Mackenzie Methner to graduation. Miranda Wyniemko, Kayla Casper, Brady Elling, Lexi Yankee, and Peyton Ritcher are coming back for Coach Rachel Bryer which will provide some experience. Wyniemko is expected to get a ton of attention along with Ritcher whom brings an inside-out game like Wyniemko. The Wildcats could be an interesting team to watch next season especially with how they have been performing this summer.

Berkley: The Bears had a very odd season which included wins over Troy, Southfield Arts and Tech, Rochester, and a buzzer beater over Oxford. They were in the Blue race until the very end where they fell to Lake Orion. Berkley earned the two seed in their district where they beat Seaholm however their season ended in a district finals loss to Groves. The Bears are in a crossroads heading into next season. Berkley loses Tessa Voss to graduation. They have Ashley Loon, Aurora Sousanis, Ava Beard, and Sammi Withrow coming back. They will have a new coach in Ben Bancroft taking over the program for Coach Kirk Carolan. Carolan stepped down to take an assistant coaching job at Macomb Community College. The Bears were not a deep team as a lot of players didn't come out because of COVID issues. If Berkley can get some of the players who didn’t come out to come back then it could be a building block for the program and it will get their program strength back up.

Rochester: The Falcons had an interesting season which included being in COVID protocol for a time and a early season win over Oxford. The strength of the program was their senior class and proven experience. They had an upset victory in the postseason like they did last season when they beat Utica in the district semifinals. This season that upset was over Troy in the same round. Rochester was just outmatched as they fell to Stoney Creek in the district finals on their home floor. The Falcons lose eight seniors including Jackie Hurst, Megan Lorenzo, Fotioni Marsellis, and Anaya Rangarjian to graduation. Coach Bill Thurston has Melina Troy and Natalie Rayce coming back along with Abbey Pleasant. The interior will be the question mark for them. Rochester will be very interesting to watch next season.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks were playing some of their best basketball of the season after getting two huge wins over Avondale and Oxford to closeout the season. They also beat Rochester as well during the season. Troy Athens had to miss out on the postseason due to COVID and contact tracing within the program. The Red Hawks lose two key seniors Niya Balusu and Ciara Shoales to graduation. They have a ton of experience in Gillian Ciak, Ella Musto, CeCe Fey, Aarushi Lockhandle, Jordyn Doyle, and Skylar Emerson coming back. I think Coach Stacie Klumpp is in a really good spot heading into next season.

Avondale: It was a struggle this season for the Yellow Jackets. They didn't win a game in the regular season which included most teams in the Blue blowing them out. They had two really bad losses to Ferndale University and Auburn Hills Oakland Christian. Avondale earned their first victory of the season over Bloomfield Hills in the first round of districts which went overtime. They were blown out by Birmingham Marian in the district semifinals. The Yellow Jackets lose Delilah Clark to graduation which is a huge loss. Coach Roy Christmon has his two top players in Reagen Lawrence and Savannah Schmidt coming back. Avondale has two transfers coming into the program coming from Dayton, Ohio next season. Program strength is not in great shape right now. I don’t know what will happen with this program but there are a ton of questions for sure.

Farmington: It’s going to be a much different program for the Falcons next season whom had a ton of success including winning the Gold. They beat North Farmington on the road in the regular season but the Raiders beat Farmington in the district semifinals. The Falcons lose six seniors including Sophia Holdwick, Kayla Gharfari, and Val Pallett to graduation. They will have Autumn Bartlett coming back which helps. Coach Laura Guzman is going to be very young next season but Guzman and these six seniors have clearly put an identity for future Falcons basketball teams.

Oak Park: The Knights had a really good season for the second straight year and earned huge wins over Seaholm and Farmington. They earned postseason blowout wins over Detroit Mumford and Warren Mott but fell to Detroit Renaissance in the district finals. Oak Park loses Tanaya Todd to graduation next season but the foundation by Coach Peggy Evans Carr is already set in stone even though her assistant Crystal Fulton will be the new coach next season. The Knights are trending on the way up despite program strength being a question mark.

Seaholm: It was an interesting season for the Maples which included a huge win over Oak Park but lost to Berkley in the district semifinals. Seaholm loses five seniors including Gwyn Wineman and Emily Jacoby to graduation. Coach Chris Manchester has some nice talent coming back in Shay Manchester, Kate Sullivan, Maggie Liebler, Clara Guffey, and Anne Boogren. The Maples are going to be a team to watch in the offseason even though depth and program strength are going to be question marks.

Ferndale University: It was a very interesting first year for the Eagles in the OAA winning five games this season. Ferndale University picked up a huge win over Avondale on the road which even though wasn’t a league win it did prove that the Eagles belong in the OAA. Coach Desdan Hester is going to need to do better against her division which I think her program will. Ferndale University is heading in the right direction.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers had a very strong season winning seven games but they did not play in the postseason due to COVID-19 last season. Harper Woods is in a very interesting spot when they enter the OAA from the Michigan Metro Conference next season. They have Kendall Kelsey, Mya Duncan, Shatyra Harris, Makaira Kelly, Cleaira Peterson, Clarita Childs, and Destiny Bealey all coming back. Program strength is a question mark though for the Pioneers. Harper Woods should be an interesting team to watch.

Pontiac: The Phoenix did not field a team this season due to the lack of numbers and the COVID-19 crisis. Pontiac will be starting fresh with a new coach next season. It will take some time to get back in the thick of things though.

Ferndale: The Eagles did not field a team this season due to the lack of numbers and the COVID-19 crisis. Ferndale should have a team back next season for new coach Al Kattola. It will take some time to get back in the thick of things though.